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-   -   Getting to Chiang Rai (https://www.fodors.com/community/asia/getting-to-chiang-rai-546799/)

cindy1 Jul 25th, 2005 03:07 PM

Getting to Chiang Rai
 
Apparently Thai Air no longer flies to Chiang Rai from Chiang Mai nor Bangkok. I just got off the phone with them after struggling with the internet site. I've heard the drive is long and bumpy. Does anyone know of any other airlines (safe) to fly there? other suggestions?

glorialf Jul 25th, 2005 07:00 PM

I'm sure there are other good airlines that fly there and others will tell you which ones. But another option is to rent a long tail boat to get you there-- preferably with a guide. It will take half a day but you can stop and visit villages. It was a great way to get there.

The drive can be very beautiful and interesting but you must have a driver -- don't do it on your own. And stop along the way.

Hanuman Jul 25th, 2005 07:07 PM

Thai still DOES fly to Chiang Rai from Bangkok. Air Asia also fly there from Bangkok. Where did you get the information that Thai has stop flying there?

Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai by car is not that bad - about 1 and 1/2 to 2 hours(depending how you drive). There are bus services too if you don't want to drive.

For your information try this web site:

http://www.tourismthailand.org/desti...p?region=north

rhkkmk Jul 25th, 2005 07:12 PM

i have not done the drive but everything i have read says 3 hours...the driving around chiang rai is very easy and anyone can do it so i don't know exactly why gloria says not to do it...

how about hiring poon (ratt's sister) or someone else to drive you....

we flew on thai air last year and it was great...bkk-CR....

the anantara hotel north of CR is fantastic if you are interested....you are really out in the country there...

avis has car rentals at CR and it is a one hour drive up to the golden triangle...no cars on the road and the roads are excellent...

cindy1 Jul 25th, 2005 07:18 PM

Actually I spoke to the agents at Thai AIr who said they no longer flew there. Then I tried myself on the website and din't have luck.

Actually, i have gotten in touch with Poon via her sister and perhaps that is what I will do. The boat ride sounds nice - I'll look into it as well as the busrise. I dont really want to do the drive on my own. In the US and even here in NY, I have no problem driving alone, but over there, I think I don't want to take that challenge, even if it is a small one.

Thanks for the advice. As always, you all have been a big help.

rhkkmk Jul 25th, 2005 07:38 PM

probably not best to drive alone if anything went wrong...poon would be a good alternative or someone from your CM hotel??

glorialf Jul 26th, 2005 04:06 AM

Bob-- the last time I did the drive from CM to CR it was on a very narrow mountain road -- happy to have someone who knew what they were doing driving. However, I think there may be a new way to get there now that is more direct (and less beautiful). When we did the drive several years ago we took about 6 or 7 hours but we stopped at villages and other things along the way (and went out of our way at times to do it).

MichaelBKK Jul 26th, 2005 05:24 AM

Thai definitely still flies to Chiang Rai, several times a day. No problems booking through the web site. Air Asia and 1-2-Go also fly there on the cheap.


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